Bylaws

Article 1. Steering Committee

Preface. Meetings of the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council (“Council”) shall be set up, run and reported on by the members of the Steering Committee of the Council. The Steering Committee shall have no extra powers beyond their responsibilities regarding Council meetings.

Section 1.1 Members of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall comprise the Chair, Vice-chair and Secretary. Steering Committee members shall be Organizational, Individual or Agency members of the Council.

Section 1.2 Terms and Term Limits. Steering committee members shall be elected for and serve a term of one year and until their successors have been duly elected or until their prior resignation. The Vice-chair shall succeed the Chair upon the completion of the Chair’s term.

Section 1.3 Steering Committee Duties. The Chair of the Steering Committee shall be responsible for setting meeting agendas, communicating meeting dates, times and locations to Council members, and for communicating with any Committee Chairs as necessary for reports and progress updates. The Chair shall represent the Council in communications with outside entities. The Chair shall also be responsible for running the Council meetings. The Vice-Chair shall support the Chair in these tasks, and shall assume the duties of the Chair if the Chair is unavailable. The Secretary shall record minutes from each Council meeting and shall distribute those minutes to all Council members. The Secretary shall also maintain a current roster of Council members.

Article 2. Council Membership

Section 2.1 Members and Memberships. The Council shall have members and memberships, divided into the following classifications:

Organizational membership.

Organizations shall mean incorporated 501 (c)(3) non-profit conservation organizations and local chapters thereof, unincorporated non-profit conservation organizations, and for-profit corporations. Organizational members shall have voting rights on the Council, one vote per organization. Organizational members may be represented by multiple individuals, but the organization as a whole shall have one Council vote.

Individual membership.

Individual shall mean those persons not representing a particular non-profit organization, corporation, government agency, who represent only themselves. Individual members shall have voting rights on the Council.

Agency membership.

Agency shall mean federal, state, or local government agencies, as established by statute. Agency members shall not have voting rights. Agencies may be represented by multiple individuals.

Section 2.2 Membership terms. Membership shall be annual, each member shall indicate in writing with the Secretary at the first meeting of the year that they commit to membership for that year. Membership shall only be in one membership category; one individual may not hold membership in multiple classifications.

Section 2.3 Membership requirements. Any organization, individual or agency wishing to support and promote the purposes of the Council may apply for membership, and, upon notifying the Secretary in writing of their intent to join as a member, shall become a member of the Council in the appropriate classification.

Section 2.4 Voting Rights. Organizational members shall have one vote to represent the organization on Council matters. Individual members shall have one vote on Council matters.

Section 2.5 Member Responsibilities. Members shall attend all Council meetings. Organizational and agency members may send multiple representatives to any meeting. Members shall adopt and adhere to the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council Statement of Membership Principles (attached).

Section 2.6 Limited liability of volunteers. Except as provided in Section 181.0670 (2) and (3), Wisconsin Statutes, a volunteer, whether such volunteer is a member or a non-member of the Council, is not liable to any person for damages, settlements, fees, fines, penalties or other monetary liabilities arising from any act or omission as a volunteer. A "volunteer" means an individual who provides services to or on behalf of the Council without compensation.

Article 3. Committees

Section 3.1 Committees; Purpose. Committees, both standing and ad hoc, shall be established by the Council to address issues of interest to the purpose and mission of the Council. These committees shall comprise members of the Council and shall have a Chair selected from among the Committee members. Committees shall remain active as long as the issue or action they were formed to address is ongoing.

Section 3.2 Committee responsibilities. The Chair of each Committee shall make a report to the full Council on the actions taken by the Committee since the last Council meeting; in addition, when necessary, the Chair shall offer recommendations for action by the Council based on the work of the Committee. Pursuant to the issues they address, Committees may or may not have authority to make decisions on behalf of the full Council, as the full Council deems appropriate.

Article 4. Administration

Section 4.1 Regular Meetings. The Council shall meet regularly, at least annually.

Section 4.2 Notice of Meetings. Notice of each meeting shall be given not less than one week prior by notice to each Council member.

Section 4.3 Voting. Any issue put forward to the Council which requires a vote of the Council shall be presented at Council meetings. Council members unable to attend the meeting for a vote may convey their vote on the issue to the Council Chair before the date of the meeting. In order for the results of a vote to be valid, a quorum of the Council members must participate in the vote.

Section 4.4 Quorum. A quorum consists of a majority of the current members of the Council at the time of a Council meeting.

Section 4.5 Council Funds. The Council shall not hold funds in account(s) set up for the Council. The Council shall not receive dues from its members nor shall it request such dues. From time to time it may be the decision of the Council to spend funds pursuant to its mission. In these situations, the Council shall endeavor to secure outside funds to cover these costs. In the event that no other funds are available, Council members may elect to contribute toward the costs at hand without expectation of reimbursement from the Council.

Article 5. Amendment

Section 5.1 Amending By-laws. These Bylaws may be amended or restated by the Council from time to time in the following manner: Any items to be considered in an amendment shall be placed on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council. At some time prior to that meeting, but in enough time for adequate review, the proposed amendment shall be sent to all Council members. Council members shall discuss and vote on the proposed amendment during their regular meeting.

Certified and true correct copy of the By-Laws adopted the 12th day of July, 2005 by the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council.

BY: Hannah Spaul, Secretary

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